Elon Musk publicly alleged Thursday that President Donald Trump is named in sealed documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, marking a sharp escalation in a feud that has rapidly unraveled one of the GOP's most prominent alliances ahead of the 2024 election.
In a post on X, Musk wrote, "@RealDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files," referring to the trove of court records and flight logs associated with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" Musk added.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO followed the remark with a second message, writing, "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out." He did not provide documentation or further detail to support the accusation.
The outburst comes just days after Musk condemned Trump's administration-backed "One Big Beautiful Bill," a sweeping legislative package aimed at extending Trump-era tax cuts, restructuring immigration enforcement, and reversing key consumer incentives for electric vehicles. Musk, a former Trump donor, called the bill a "disgusting abomination" and warned it would "add trillions to the federal debt."
Trump fired back on Truth Social Thursday, claiming Musk "just went CRAZY" after the administration removed an electric vehicle mandate. "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts," Trump wrote. "I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!)."
Trump denied Musk's implication, posting, "I don't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago." He then doubled down on the bill's merits: "It's a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given. If this Bill doesn't pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that."
The clash signals the complete breakdown of a once-mutually beneficial political alliance. Musk previously claimed that his support helped Trump win the 2020 election. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate," Musk stated on X. "Such ingratitude."
The White House weighed in cautiously. Press Secretary Karolina Leavitt told reporters Tuesday, "Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn't change the president's opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it."
The "Epstein files" Musk referenced remain partially sealed. While names of various prominent individuals have been disclosed through prior court proceedings and media reports, speculation has persisted about additional undisclosed names. Trump has publicly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, though the two were known to have moved in similar social circles in the early 2000s. The former president has said he severed ties with Epstein after his 2007 conviction in Florida for sex-related offenses involving a minor.
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging. He had previously been convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor and served time in a Florida jail under a controversial plea agreement.
Trump's critics have long questioned the extent of his past association with Epstein, but no criminal charges or evidence have linked the president directly to the sex trafficking network. Musk's allegation is the first time a major public figure has claimed Trump's name appears in sealed court documents related to Epstein.
